Self-rolling cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A self-rolling cleaning device is generally disclosed comprising a battery operated and remotely controlled electric motor with power supply ( 3 ) located inside the hollow spherical body ( 1 ) or a hollow cylindrical body ( 2 ) and ensuring rotation thereof, and attached litter collector ( 7 ) with sticky, bristly, magnetic, or any other surface capable of collecting small-sized litter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND—STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to home appliances, specifically to home appliances for cleaning floors of premises from small-sized litter, and can also be used as a remote-controlled toy, allowing combination of teaching children to acquire skills of useful work and a game.

2. Description of Prior Art

Small-sized litter, like tiny pieces of paper, thread, oddments of an assembly material, small-sized parts of toys, and the like, generally resulting from children's activity, is often present on floor surface in children's rooms. Small-sized litter, including fallen down animal and human hair, may also be found in other parts of a house, e.g., living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms. Cleaning of floors from such small-sized litter is always a time consuming and often not a very pleasant activity.

Household appliances and devices used for cleaning of such litter normally include various brooms, sweepers, mops, vacuum cleaners and the like cumbersome household gears and appliances, which generally make it very difficult, if not impossible, to fully and effectively combine cleaning with another activity, like reading, writing, drawing, playing, working on a computer, watching TV, etc. A person using either of such appliances or devices is required to periodically move it from one place to another applying his manual force and move himself with the appliance or device and sometimes bend in the process of cleaning the surface. Doing so may be very difficult for elderly people and people having physical problems limiting them in movements, as well as for small children, it may also be boring enough for teenagers and not a fun for adults. All these represent major disadvantages of such known household cleaning appliances and devices, which are not capable of moving themselves without manual control of the user and application of his manual force. Examples of prior cleaning devices are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,742,547; 4,750,234; 5,363,534; 5,776,215; 5,865,509; RU Pat. Nos. 2078530; 2103903; and SU Pat. No. 560589.

Compact devices for cleaning surfaces from small-sized litter like lint are known and basically include lint removing adhesive tape rolls. Although they are efficient in cleaning, none of them are capable of moving themselves without manual force of the user. Examples of such cleaning devices are U.S. Pat. No. 7,003,844; European Pat. No. 1157654.

Compact devices that are capable of moving themselves without such manual force of the user are known for many years and basically include radio-controlled toys, such as radio-controlled vehicles and radio-controlled balls. Examples of such prior radio-controlled toys are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,209,942; 4,438,588; 4,471,567; 4,480,401; 4,541,814; 4,726,800; 4,927,401; and 5,334,076. They are fun to use, however, their functions are generally limited to entertainment of children, and none of them are used for cleaning floor surfaces from small-sized litter, except for a remote-controlled device in U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,089. This invention provides improvement of the latter, decreasing the cost of its manufacturing, strengthening the cleaning power, increasing speed of movement, and expansion of the area of contact between the device and surface to clean.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a self-rolling cleaning device comprises a remotely controlled motorized sphere or cylinder covered with litter collector having a surface capable of collecting small-sized litter.

Objects and Advantage

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   -   (a) to provide a self-rolling cleaning device for various floor         and other horizontal surfaces which does not require its user to         manually move the device in the process of cleaning;     -   (b) to provide a self-rolling cleaning device for various floor         and other horizontal surfaces which does not require its user to         bend in the process of cleaning;     -   (c) to provide a self-rolling cleaning device for various floor         and other horizontal surfaces which is convenient in use and         simple in operation;     -   (d) to provide a self-rolling cleaning device which will allow         its user to combine the process of cleaning with other         activities, like playing a game, watching a television program,         reading, cooking, talking, etc.;     -   (e) to provide a self-rolling cleaning device which will allow         children to efficiently acquire skills of useful work while         playing;     -   (f) to provide a self-rolling cleaning device which will allow         aged, sick and handicapped people to clean various floor and         other surfaces from small-sized litter without a side help.

Further objects and advantages are to provide a self-rolling cleaning device having the ready availability of various attachments allowing the single device to be suitable for different surfaces and types of litter, which is simple to use, easy to replace attachments and inexpensive to manufacture. Still further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawings further describe the invention.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show various aspects of the device constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 shows the same device with a hollow body as a cylinder and a litter collector made as a roller.

FIGS. 5 and 6 shows the same device with a hollow spherical body containing electric motor with power supply disposed inside a hollow cylindrical body covered with a litter collector.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

-   -   1 hollow spherical body     -   2 hollow cylindrical body     -   3 electric motor with power supply     -   4 axle     -   5 opening in the hollow spherical body     -   6 opening in the hollow cylindrical body     -   7 litter collector     -   8 closable split     -   9 antenna     -   10 remote control     -   11 batteries     -   12 sound plate     -   13 flash light plate     -   14 reach-through holes     -   15 platform with wheels     -   16 hemisphere     -   17 power supply switcher

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION—FIGS. 1-3—PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The device has a hollow spherical body 1 containing an electric motor with power supply 3, a remote control 10, and a litter collector 7. In the preferred embodiment, the hollow spherical body is made of two hemispheres 16 capable of unlocking and revealing an opening 5 to provide access to the power supply of the electric motor 3, and securely closing to form the sphere. The electric motor is attached to one of the hemispheres 16 by means of axle 4 in the way of ensuring rotation of the hollow spherical body 1 when the power supply of the electric motor 3 is switched on. The litter collector 7 is a removable cover made of an elastic material with sticky, bristly or magnetic surface having a closable split 8 with zip-fastener to provide access to the hollow spherical body 1 and to replace the cover. The litter collector 7 is placed over the hollow spherical body 1. To increase attractiveness of the device and provide joy for the user, the electric motor 3 is equipped with a sound plate 12. If illumination of the inner space of the sphere is desired, a plurality of small reach-through holes 14 to be made in each the cover and the sphere and illumination to be provided inside the sphere (e.g., bulbs of various colors and flashlight plate 13).

A device is operating as follows:

When an electric motor with power supply 3 is switched on (electric motor switches as a result of radio wave transmission from remote control 10 to antenna 9), the device starts its movement, and—while it is rolling—the litter collector 7 picks-up small-sized litter from a floor or other horizontal surface on its way.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION—FIG. 5—ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENT

An additional embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, where a hollow spherical body 1 containing an electric motor with power supply 3 is placed inside a hollow cylindrical body 2, and a litter collector 7 is a cover with bristly surface. The hollow cylindrical body 2 has at least one closable opening 6 to provide access to the hollow spherical body 1.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION—FIGS. 4 AND 6—ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT

There are various possibilities with regard to the relative disposition of the rolling agents containing the electric motor with power supply 3 inside the hollow cylindrical body 2, as well as their shapes.

FIG. 4. shows the device as a battery operated self-rolling cylinder with the litter collector 7 made as a bristly brush. The electric motor 3 is attached to the hollow cylindrical body 2 by means of axle 4 in the way of ensuring the rolling of the hollow cylindrical body 2 when the switcher 17 is on. The power to the electric motor 3 is supplied from batteries 11.

FIG. 6. shows the hollow spherical body 1 disposed inside the hollow cylindrical body 2, and the litter collector 7 made as a multi-layer roll of removable sheets with sticky surface. The electric motor with power supply 3 is attached to a platform with wheels 15. When the power supply switcher 17 is on, the platform with wheels 15 is rolling inside the hollow spherical body 1 making the latter to rotate inside the hollow cylindrical body 2, causing the latter to roll and the litter collector 7 to pick-up the small-sized litter.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly, the reader will see that the cleaning device of this invention can be used to provide a simpler and more convenient in operation device for picking-up small-sized litter from floor and other surfaces. Furthermore, the device has the additional advantages in that

-   -   it provides a device for cleaning various floor and other         surfaces that does not require its user to manually move the         device in the process of cleaning;     -   it provides a device for cleaning various floor and other         surfaces that does not require its user to bend in the process         of cleaning;     -   it provides a device for cleaning various floor and other         surfaces which is convenient in use and simple in operation;     -   it provides a device for cleaning various floor and other         surfaces allowing its user to combine the process of cleaning         with other activities, like playing a game, watching a         television program, reading, talking, etc.;     -   it provides a device for cleaning floors and other surfaces         allowing children to efficiently acquire skills of useful work         while playing;     -   it provides a device for cleaning floors and other surfaces         allowing aged, sick and handicapped people to clean various         floor and other surfaces from small-sized litter without a side         help;     -   it provides a device for cleaning floors and other surfaces that         is simple to use, easy to replace attachments and inexpensive to         manufacture.

The above description and examples should be not construed as limitations on the scope of the invention. Many other variations are possible. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is determined by the claims and their legal equivalents. 

1. A self-rolling cleaning device comprising a hollow body, an electric motor with power supply, and a litter collector, said electric motor with power supply disposed inside the hollow body, said hollow body provided with an opening to reach the power supply, said electric motor with power supply attached to said hollow body by means of axle or otherwise with a possibility of the hollow body rotation and rolling movement in horizontal plane, said hollow body is covered by said litter collector, said litter collector provided with a surface capable of collecting litter.
 2. Said device of claim 1, wherein said hollow body is spherical.
 3. Said device of claim 2, wherein said hollow spherical body made of two hemi-spheres.
 4. Said device of claim 1, wherein said hollow body is cylindrical.
 5. Said device of claim 1, wherein said electric motor with power supply is battery operated.
 6. Said device of claim 1, wherein said electric motor with power supply is remotely controlled.
 7. Said device of claim 1, wherein said litter collector provided with sticky, bristly and/or magnetic surface.
 8. Said device of claim 7, wherein said sticky surface is multi-layer.
 9. Said device of claim 1, wherein said litter collector made of water-absorbing material.
 10. Said device of claim 1, wherein said litter collector provided with a closable split.
 11. A self-rolling cleaning device comprising a hollow cylindrical body, a hollow spherical body, an electric motor with power supply, and a litter collector, said electric motor with power supply disposed inside the hollow spherical body with a possibility of the hollow spherical body rotation and rolling movement, said hollow spherical body provided with an opening to reach the power supply of said electric motor, said hollow cylindrical body provided with a closable opening to reach the hollow spherical body, said hollow cylindrical body covered by said litter collector, and said litter collector provided with a surface capable of collecting litter.
 12. Said device of claim 11, wherein said electric motor with power supply attached to said hollow spherical body by means of axle or otherwise.
 13. Said device of claim 11, wherein said electric motor with power supply attached to a platform with wheels.
 14. Said device of claim 11, wherein said electric motor with power supply is battery operated.
 15. Said device of claim 11, wherein said electric motor with power supply is remotely controlled.
 16. Said device of claim 11, wherein said litter collector provided with sticky, bristly and/or magnetic surface.
 17. Said device of claim 16, wherein said sticky surface is multi-layer.
 18. Said device of claim 11, wherein said litter collector made of water-absorbing material.
 19. Said device of claim 11, wherein said litter collector provided with a closable split. 